Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Janakpur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $308 per month in Janakpur vs $494 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A couple spends around $517 per month in Janakpur vs $789 in Kathmandu, rent included.

A family of three spends $726 per month in Janakpur vs $1,085 in Kathmandu, rent included.

Janakpur is about 38% cheaper than Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Janakpur and Kathmandu are more affordable than the global median – Janakpur 77% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.87 NPR 287

$1.86 NPR 286

0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.70 NPR 1,644

$18.98 NPR 2,915

-43.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.36 NPR 976

$6.56 NPR 1,008

-3.05%

Cappuccino

$1.74 NPR 268

$1.84 NPR 282

-5.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 NPR 83.0

$0.54 NPR 83.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.28

$0.18 NPR 26.97

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 NPR 363

$2.66 NPR 409

-11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 NPR 402

$3.54 NPR 544

-26.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 NPR 96.6

$0.86 NPR 132

-26.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 NPR 51.5

$0.54 NPR 83.6

-37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 NPR 102

$1.01 NPR 155

-34.65%

Eggs

$1.82 NPR 280

$1.79 NPR 274

1.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.27 NPR 656

$8.75 NPR 1,344

-51.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 NPR 493

$3.10 NPR 477

3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.72 NPR 571

$6.10 NPR 937

-39.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 NPR 255

$2.26 NPR 348

-26.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.8

$1.04 NPR 159

-38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 192

$1.25 NPR 193

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 NPR 101

$0.70 NPR 108

-5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 NPR 42.45

$0.49 NPR 74.7

-42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 NPR 83.3

$0.73 NPR 112

-26.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 NPR 35.40

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-53.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.26 NPR 40.18

$0.27 NPR 41.92

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 NPR 395

$2.84 NPR 436

-9.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.79 NPR 1,351

$8.66 NPR 1,330

1.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 NPR 285

$2.37 NPR 364

-21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 NPR 381

$3.23 NPR 496

-23.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 NPR 30.08

$0.23 NPR 35.47

-13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 NPR 115

$2.23 NPR 343

-66.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 NPR 111

$1.07 NPR 164

-32.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 NPR 562

$3.68 NPR 565

-0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 NPR 185

$1.23 NPR 189

-2.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K NPR 3.9M

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

-19.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.7K NPR 4.4M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-29.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$14.80 NPR 2,273

$32.99 NPR 5,068

-55.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.98 NPR 764

$4.73 NPR 727

5.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$4.43 NPR 681

$9.72 NPR 1,494

-54.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.10 NPR 1,704

$22.35 NPR 3,433

-50.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.49 NPR 1,150

$7.18 NPR 1,103

4.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.14 NPR 482

$3.24 NPR 498

-3.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$32.73 NPR 5,028

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

-63.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,827 NPR 587.9K

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

-0.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.11 NPR 3,704

$24.49 NPR 3,762

-1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.30 NPR 2,811

$27.56 NPR 4,233

-33.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.83 NPR 4,736

$58.3 NPR 8,953

-47.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.39 NPR 4,668

$38.85 NPR 5,967

-21.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$38.02 NPR 5,840

$194 NPR 29.8K

-80.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$21.47 NPR 3,297

$100 NPR 15.4K

-78.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 NPR 17.6K

$342 NPR 52.5K

-66.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.2 NPR 13.4K

$188 NPR 28.9K

-53.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 NPR 348.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,322 NPR 203.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$323 NPR 49.6K

$277 NPR 42.6K

16.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-0.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Janakpur: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $38.02 in Janakpur versus $194 in Kathmandu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 16% higher in Janakpur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Janakpur versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $118 vs $155 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Janakpur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $308 in Janakpur, $494 in Kathmandu – roughly 60% apart. Kathmandu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $463 per month in Janakpur and $741 in Kathmandu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $308 in Janakpur and $494 in Kathmandu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $32.73 per month in Janakpur and $89.5 in Kathmandu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $308 in Janakpur and $494 in Kathmandu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Janakpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.